Benefits of a Diversity Initiative

Presented by Amy Stadem, Brenda Siegel, Carlie Pierson and Ashley

Paulson

What can we accomplish with a diversity initiative?

Increase employee retention rates

Increase productivity Appeal to potential

employees Appeal to potential

vendors and customers

“If employees believe they are respected, they

will stay with the company longer while maintaining strong accountability and productivity (Canas & Sondak, 2011, p. 18)

By making employees feel more included, retention rates could increase which would save the company money that is spent recruiting and training new employees

Employee Retention Rates

Employee Retention Rates (cont.)

By appealing to a diverse audience, employees will feel included which could result in loyalty to the company

Offering management training to employees of different backgrounds will help to make them feel that they have a future with the company This could lead to fewer

lawsuits, lower turnover, and higher commitment from them (Canas & Sondak, 2011)

Helps communication on multi-levels with a broader

customer base Understanding the verbal and non verbal cues from all

types of people Ability to extend business nation wide Problem solving skills at a higher level based on more

experiences Collaboration of education and talents to create larger

and better ideas that keep up with what the consumer wants

Buying Power New and different attitudes attract others

Appeal to Customers and Vendors (cont.)

“Employees must be able to understand the customer's perspective, anticipate and

monitor the customer's needs and expectations, and respond

sensitively and appropriately to fulfill those needs and

expectations. In the service game, "customer literacy" is an essential skill.” (Jackson & Alvarez, 2012)

Appeal to Customers and Vendors

Appeal to Customers and Vendors (cont.)

“A diverse personal network enables you to increase the possibility of including connectors, or linchpins, in your network. Linchpins are people who in some way cross over between two or more clusters or groups of individuals.” (Misner, 2004)

“Workforce Diversity” refers to policies and practices that seek to include people within a workforce who are considered to be, in some way, different from those in the prevailing constituency.” (Micinnes, 2012)

Conclusion: A Diversity Initiative Will Help the

Company

• Increase employee retention rates

• Increase productivity• Appeal to potential

employees• Appeal to potential

vendors and customers

Canas, K. A., & Sondak, H. (2011). Opportunities and

Challenges of Workplace Diversity: Theory, Cases and Exercises; 2nd edition. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Jackson, S., & Alvarez, E. (2012). Working through diversity as a strategic imperative. Retrieved from http://www.radford.edu/~kvharring/docs/HRMDocs/2diversityimp.pdf 

Mcinnes, R. (2012). Workforce diversity changing the way you do business. Retrieved from http://www.diversityworld.com/Diversity/workforce_diversity.htm

Misner, I. (2004, January 26). The importance of diversity in networking. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/68840

References